Nehemiah 12:27-13:31 / 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 / Psalms 35:1-16 / Proverbs 21:17-18
I’ve talked about walls before. We discussed them in our very first InCourage group with Still the Mom when we studied the book Boundaries by Townsend and Clour. Walls are great at keeping things in or out, however, there are times when those walls are keeping in or out both the good things God wants to bring into our lives and the evil things the devil would like to throw at us. It’s important we’re aware of which things we’re keeping in and out of our hearts with the walls we’ve built.
As part of the Emotional Release class I teach (coming in the fall of 2021), we learn about stronghold patterns and walls we’ve built in our hearts that we put there for our protection. The trouble with our personal walls is we’re trying to protect ourselves when God wants to be the One who is our protector. Our walls usually stop the flow of God’s Spirit. God’s walls of protection are more permeable and discerning.
What do I mean by that? If we’ll allow God to protect us, He will be the One to decide what gets in and out past the barrier He has around us. He knows what we need, and He knows what will harm us. We are not always fully aware of which things are for our best and which are for our harm.
As I read about the completion of the walls around Jerusalem in Nehemiah, and the leaders of Judah and their two large choirs who climbed to the top of the wall, of course many thoughts of walls came to mind. I was reminded about the verse in Psalm 125:2 NLT that tells us Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forever.
Just reading that verse makes me aware of my safety in the Lord. And I’m sure there was a measure of feeling safe as the walls and gates of Jerusalem were repaired in Nehemiah’s time. In considering that two choirs were walking along the wall singing in celebration, I wondered how wide and high must those walls have been? So, I did a little research, and here’s what I found.
The walls of Jerusalem were probably about 40 feet high and 8 feet wide, so plenty of space for a choir to walk in both directions until they met again at the other side. It’s difficult to be sure exactly what the wall might have looked like, but some of the depictions I’ve seen indicate a parapet would have been included along the upper part of the wall. That would have been for safety and defense.
I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to be present for the history we read about in the Bible. We think about the majesty and the victories, but we must also consider the difficulties the people faced without our modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing and electricity. Many times I’ve thought about how fascinating it would be to visit Israel and place my feet on the paths that those in scripture walked. Maybe that will be a reality one day.
Bur for now, I will enjoy the history, taking heart that God is the same now as He was then. He is a God who cares for, protects, and instructs His people still today. And He is surrounding me now just as He surrounded those ancient walls in the days of Nehemiah. I’m blessed that He does not change!
